Here's what the Orlando Magic must accomplish in October

Eighteen players will gather at Amway Center for the team's annual media day. On Tuesday, the squad will hold its first practice to prep for the 2013-14 season.

The regular-season opener looms on Oct. 29, less than a month from now.

What does the team need to accomplish before then? Here's a checklist of what it needs to do.

Make Oladipo comfortableThe Magic will test rookie Victor Oladipo immediately. Oladipo, who played shooting guard in college, will be asked to play perhaps a significant amount at point guard, continuing the experiment the team began during its summer-league exhibitions.

Oladipo faces a difficult test in the weeks ahead. A rookie season is difficult for any player — even someone who played three years of college ball at Indiana, as Oladipo did — and now Oladipo will try to pick up the nuances of the most complex position on the floor.

Magic officials believe he can excel as a defender at both guard positions, but anyone would acknowledge Oladipo will have some rough moments on the offensive end of the court. But that should be OK given that the Magic are in Year Two of their rebuilding project. Taking some lumps now might pay major dividends a few years down the road as long as his confidence remains intact.

Set a toneGeneral Manager Rob Hennigan said team officials are pleased with how their youngsters and veterans worked during the offseason.

Coach Jacque Vaughn maintained a positive atmosphere around the team last season even though it posted a league-worst 20-62 record. That's not an easy thing to do.

The danger in a rebuilding situation, of course, is that players can become too accepting of losing.

Being competitive once the exhibition season begins could generate some momentum.

Bring Big Baby along slowlyThe Magic will begin October — and likely the regular season — without power forward Glen Davis, one of their most competitive, most physical players.

After he underwent surgery last winter to repair a fractured foot, Davis needed a second operation in July to promote healing.

Davis has been cleared to do some conditioning work, but he's not been cleared for basketball activities. Team officials pledge they will be ultra-cautious in bringing Davis back in an effort to avoid setbacks.

Resolve Turk's situationHedo Turkoglu won't be around the team anymore as team officials and Turkoglu's agent discuss a possible buyout and the team holds onto his contract for a possible trade.

One critical signpost is Jan. 7, because if he's not waived before 5 p.m. on that day, the Magic would be obligated to pay his entire salary of $12 million.

But in the meantime, Turkoglu continues to occupy a precious roster spot. If he's still on the roster at the end of October, it almost certainly would mean that second-round pick Romero Osby and four training camp invitees — center Mickell Gladness, center/power forward Solomon Jones, forward Kris Joseph and guard Manny Harris — would be competing against each other for the 15th, and final, roster spot.

Resolving Turkoglu's situation before the end of October would give team officials two available roster spots instead of one.

Stay healthyAside from Davis, no Magic players underwent surgical procedures during the offseason, and everyone besides Davis should be available to practice on Tuesday.

Pick up rookie-scale optionsThe Magic have until the end of October to pick up their team options for the 2014-15 season on Maurice Harkless, Tobias Harris, Andrew Nicholson and Nik Vucevic. (This doesn't apply to Kyle O'Quinn, Doron Lamb and E'Twaun Moore, because they weren't first-round picks.)

Those procedural moves are no-brainers for the Magic, and the team will exercise those options within the next few weeks.

Don't overwork Nelson or AfflaloPoint guard Jameer Nelson and shooting guard Arron Afflalo are said to be in good shape after intensive offseason work, but the team would be well-served to limit their minutes in the weeks ahead.